human resources development - united...

STSecretariat

UNITED NATIONS

Distr.

LIMITED

ST/SG/AC.6/1995/L.7/Add.1

7 July 1995

ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

TWELFTH MEETING OF EXPERTS ON THE

UNITED NATIONS PROGRAMME IN PUBLIC

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

New York, 31 July-11 August 1995

HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

CONTENTS

Paragraphs Page

INTRODUCTION .............................................. 1 - 8 2

I. HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND THE UNITED NATIONS ... 9 - 21 3

II. INITIATING HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN THE PUBLIC

SECTOR ............................................... 22 - 61 7

III. CONCLUSION ........................................... 62 - 63 15

Annex. Performance measurement questions .............................. 17


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95-19186 (E) 210795 /...

*9519186*INTRODUCTION

1. Over time, people's demands for services from their Governments have

increased. In order to respond to such demands, the public sector must depend

on the quality of its human resources. It is essential therefore to improve and

upgrade the calibre of human resources in the public sector since this will

determine the character and effectiveness of an administrative system.

2. Increasing demand for goods and services has unfortunately been accompanied

by increasing scepticism about the ability of the public sector to conduct its

affairs in a productive manner. The public sector is generally viewed as being

administered by "incompetent bureaucrats" steeped in "red tape", indifferent to

the needs of the public, and, unable to effectively deliver the required goods

and services, hide their inability by strict adherence to rules and regulations.

Whether or not this sense of incompetence is based on fact, as long as the

perception exists it becomes difficult for the public sector to be effective in

the conduct of its affairs.

3. As the global economic system is transformed to adjust to the post-Cold War

political dynamics, the public sector in all countries is faced with reinventing

and restructuring its core mission. It is a period of great change, high risk

and uncertainty. However, such traumatic periods also provide institutions and

organizations with opportunities to make paradigm shifts to achieve high success

levels in the newer environment.

4. The public sector in most countries, more so in developing and transition

economies, is faced with two possibilities. In the first scenario, the public

sector would forfeit its production function to the private sector. Those who

hold this perspective assert that the private sector could deliver public goods

and services in a far more efficient manner. In such circumstances, the public

sector would shrink and perform very limited but important policy functions. In


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the second scenario, the public sector would be re-engineered making itself

highly efficient and assuming redefined core responsibilities associated with

the reduction of poverty, development of infrastructures, promotion of social

development, protection of the environment and shaping the conditions for

private sector development. In this second scenario, the role of the public

sector would be focused towards creating appropriate conditions for sustained

economic growth and sustainable development.

5. Under either scenario, in order to meet the new challenges, a key course of

action for reinventing the public sector is to assess its human resources

capacities and to generate appropriate strategies for human resources

development.

6. Human resources development encompasses an array of activities that

enhances the ability of all human beings to reach their highest potential. In

the United Nations, attention to this human factor has always been a key element

in its development agenda. As the late Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld

stated, "fundamentally man is the key to all problems, not money. Funds are

valuable only when used by trained, experienced, and devoted men and women.

Such people, on the other hand, can work miracles even with small resources and

draw wealth out of a barren land."

7. The United Nations initiatives in understanding the importance of human

resources development are many and varied and range from establishing

organizational structures within the United Nations, such as the Department for

Development Support and Management Services to public sector capacity-building

projects, such as civil service reform, data management, training needs

assessments, gender analysis, and estimating the needs in human resources of

Governments of economies in transition; as well as orchestrating international

seminars, workshops, and meetings on these concerns.

8. The purpose of the present paper is (a) to summarize the United Nations

approach to human resources development; and (b) to examine selected

intervention points for initiating human resources development experiments in

the public sector.

I. HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND THE UNITED NATIONS

9. It is generally agreed that if overall human conditions are to improve,

there must be increasing emphasis on human resources development.

Appropriately, such development provides for increases in productivity, enhances


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competitiveness and supports economic growth. However, the process, by

definition, is very complex. The United Nations, with its four decades of

experiment and experience in economic, political, social, cultural and

humanitarian affairs, has formulated important perspectives on human resources

development.

10. Basic to the United Nations perspectives is the need for an integrated

approach. An integrated system supports a comprehensive inclusive policy by

providing sustained and equal opportunities to all. This allows societal

acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies. Society as a whole benefits.

This approach puts primary emphasis on the enabling conditions that must exist

to support human resources development in any country.

11. The United Nations has identified five enabling conditions that help to

support sustainable development and consequently advance human well-being and

development: peace, economic growth, sustainable environment, justice and

democracy.

12. Most development efforts have taken place under conditions of tension,

strife, conflict and confrontation. These conditions are not conducive to

development. Peace is a fundamental prerequisite. It allows for systematic

examination of existing institutions and their relationship to sustainable

development. Peace also provides opportunities for creation and support of new

institutions and institutional relationships which enhance the ability of

countries to accelerate their path to achieving sustainable development.

13. Economic growth is the engine of development. Without economic growth

there can be no sustained increase in societal wealth. It is important to note

that sustained economic growth should be complemented with appropriate designs

for equality of opportunities and income distribution policies.

14. The current state of the environment is a cause of major concern. The

last four decades of development effort, while contributing to increased

well-being, has also had an unintended consequence of environmental

disintegration and decay. As environmental degradation affects the quality and

quantity of all human life, environmental protection is a basic building block

for all forms of human resources development. Development and environment are

not separate concepts. Environment is a resource for development.

15. If people are a country's principal asset, then their well-being defines

the course of development, and their characteristics determine the nature and

direction of sustainable human development. However, where discrimination,


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fanaticism, intolerance, and persecution exist, along with poverty, sickness and

illiteracy, the consequences are also familiar: social disaffection,

separatism, micro-nationalism and conflict. Social justice at the national and

international levels is an imperative, for only under an elevated form of social

justice can the full potential of human resources development be realized.

16. Democracy can make Governments more responsive to popular concerns and

provide added incentives for transparency in decision-making through

(a) promoting appropriate forms of comprehensive popular participation;

(b) protecting the capacity, reliability and integrity of core State

institutions, including the civil service; (c) establishing the political

legitimacy of Governments and (d) ensuring accountability to citizens.

Democracy serves as one standard for good governance.

17. These five conditions provide the fundamental framework within which

policies and programmes can emerge in those countries that are launching

concerted human resources development programmes. In other countries, the five

enabling conditions can be used to harmonize and enhance human resources

development activities.

18. While such activities within the United Nations system were launched from

its earliest years through General Assembly resolution 246, and later, in 1978,

through resolution 33/135, human resources development found its formal place

in 1989 in General Assembly resolution 44/213, which states that:

"human resources development is a broad concept ... requiring integrated

and concerted strategies, policies, plans and programmes to ensure the

development of the full potential of human beings ... so that they may,

individually and collectively, be capable of improving their standard of

living".

19. Further elaboration of this theme was developed in all subsequent General

Assembly sessions. In its current formulation, human resources development

within the United Nations is built on two basic principles. These are (a) the

human being is at the centre of all development activities; and (b) human

resources are an essential means of achieving economic, and social and

development goals.

20. In 1993 the report of the Secretary-General on developing human resources

for development (A/48/364) recognized five interacting components as major

building blocks for effective human resources development:


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"(a) Promotion of lifelong acquisition of knowledge, skills, and

competencies necessary for the performance of chosen roles that contribute

economically and socially to self and others;

"(b) Facilitating the application of knowledge, skills and

competencies in chosen roles in rewarding ways;

"(c) Improving access to assets (such as land, shelter, capital and

information) without which the development of human capabilities is often

essentially stunted at the source;

"(d) Sustenance of human resources through policies and regulatory

mechanisms that underpin broad intersectoral support for both the

acquisition and the application of knowledge and skills;

"(e) Ensuring a modicum of the sense of the individual, local, and

national security: peaceful political and favourable national and

international economic conditions."

21. These building blocks form the basis for deriving essential activities to

accomplish the mission as stated in these different components of the building

blocks:

(a) Basic education and continued objective-directed training,

particularly basic education, upgrading of skills, demand-oriented technical

training and education for women and their integration into the development

process;

(b) The importance of appropriate and sustainable technologies in the

training and educational processes in developing countries, particularly the

role of intensified international cooperation through, inter alia, the transfer

of relevant technology and education and training programmes, including distance

education programmes, utilizing appropriate and sustainable technologies to

broaden the range of available resources;

(c) The vital importance of national capacity-building in developing

countries, particularly the critical importance of qualified national personnel;

(d) The integration of human resources development into comprehensive and

well-conceived, gender-sensitive strategies for human development, including

supportive measures in vital and related areas such as population, health,

nutrition, water, sanitation, housing, communications education and training,


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and science and technology as well as the need to create more opportunities for

employment in an environment that guarantees opportunities for political

freedom, popular participation, respect for human rights, justice, and equity,

all of which are essential for enhancing human capacities to meet the challenge

of development (to assess progress in those areas, there is a need for

appropriate qualitative and quantitative indicators);

(e) Full mobilization and integration of women in the formulation and

implementation of appropriate national policies to promote human resources

development;

(f) The importance of women and youth in human resources development and

support for conferences on these two themes;

(g) The vital importance of cooperation between the public and private

sectors through effective implementation of policies, plans and programmes for

economic development and the optimal use of resources to that end;

(h) The importance of international support for national and regional

efforts in human resources development through the increased flow of resources

to developing countries;

(i) The vital importance of appropriate national policies and their

implementation to promote human resources development through the optimal use of

resources, taking due account of the importance of primary education and primary

health care programmes;

(j) The role of the United Nations system at the request of developing

countries, to take appropriate steps to strengthen the support provided by their

operational activities to national and regional action, and targets for human

resources development, particularly by improving coordination and developing a

multisectoral, integrated approach. The General Assembly also recommends that

the United Nations coordinate its activities in support of national and regional

programmes, priorities, and activities in human resources development through

dialogue on policy, resource allocation, and the strengthening of databases for

planning and monitoring as well as through appropriate, measurable qualitative

and quantitative goals for human resources development;

(k) The need to achieve targets agreed upon by Governments, bearing in

mind the importance of maintaining a multisectoral integrated approach to the

relevant activities in a coordinated and integrated manner;


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(l) The need to take action to mitigate negative effects of certain

elements of stabilization and structural adjustment programmes intended to

promote economic growth and development and in that respect the need for

appropriate social safety nets in formulating and implementing these programmes

in developing countries;

(m) The need to increase the flow of resources to developing countries by

improving the international economic environment and international support to

national efforts and regional programmes for human resources development in

developing countries, particularly in the area of national capacity-building;

(n) The important role of non-governmental organizations in human

resources development.


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II. INITIATING HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR

22. Human resources development, in a sense, represents a broad vision of the

relationship between individuals and society regarding their capabilities and

capacities for sustainable economic development. However, when human resources

development is directed towards a specific sector, in this case the public

sector, the focus changes to a specific process of dealing with the attraction

of people into, their retention in, and subsequent departure from that sector.

It attempts to achieve the goals and objectives of the organization by

maximizing individual and collective productivity. It also attempts to create a

healthy relationship between the organization and its people; that is, both its

human and non-human environments.

23. While there are many strategies, tactics, and operational methodologies for

achieving the goals of human resources development in the public sector four

intervention methods will be discussed. These are (a) the strategic planning

initiative; (b) the information initiative; (c) the performance initiative; and

(d) the training and professional development initiative.

The strategic planning initiative

24. The strategic planning initiative directs the energy and vitality of the

public sector towards development of specific programmes and projects in human

resources development. Many countries have embarked on this process. Selected

instances in various countries are outlined below.

25. The Afghanistan plan articulates the following objectives:

(a) To develop and strengthen the structure and functioning of

departments;

(b) To strengthen management and administrative training capabilities;

(c) To develop a management system and improve support.

26. To achieve these objectives, Afghanistan has developed the following

activities:

(a) Providing incentives by offering promotions based on a merit system;

(b) Providing information through intensive training and the assistance of

consultants, in order to increase the competency of the Personnel Department to


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offer general guidance to other State agencies on managerial effectiveness and

operational productivity.

27. In Bhutan, human resources development objectives involve:

(a) Promotion of national self-reliance;

(b) Preservation of national identity, along with the development of a

compact, effective public service in the country;

(c) Complementarity of national economic development and the required

workforce;

(d) Emphasis on developing human resources in the private and public

sectors;

(e) Enhancement of the role of women in development.

28. These objectives are achieved through the following:

(a) An integrated and intersectoral approach to planning for human

resources development through the mechanism of the Master Plan;

(b) Strengthening of education and training infrastructure within the

country, as well as improvement in the quality of education and training;

(c) Attempts to widen the donor base for human resources development both

in terms of increased aid from existing donors and assistance from new donors;

(d) Continuous institutional strengthening activities for human resources

management, with emphasis on user agencies both in the public and private

sectors;

(e) Special emphasis on programmes for the private sector to encourage its

development and promote the acceleration of industrial development, without

adversely affecting the environment.

29. In Indonesia, national objectives for human resources development involve:

(a) Improvement of procedures for formulating job positions;

(b) Improvement of recruitment criteria;


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(c) Adjustment of regulations for ongoing development needs;

(d) Improvement of the career management system;

(e) Increased development of functional positions;

(f) Improved salaries and retirement procedures;

(g) Increased ability and quality of district-level Government apparatus.

30. Strategies include:

(a) Establishing job descriptions;

(b) Efforts to improve the well-being of civil servants;

(c) Development of a personnel information system;

(d) Improved education and training for civil servants.

31. In Pakistan, human resources development focuses on

(a) Attracting the best talent available for jobs in the public service;

(b) Recruitment and promotion on merit;

(c) Career development through job rotation within occupational groups;

(d) Emphasis on training, both pre-service and in-service, for improving

performance;

(e) Retention in public service based on fair compensation and equitable

chances of promotion;

(f) Observance of due process in disciplinary actions and redress of

grievances of public servants through Service Courts;

(g) Accountability to Parliament and other constitutional bodies.

32. In Papua New Guinea, the human resources programme includes the following

strategic components: (a) Capability of achieving greater organizational


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purpose and direction; (b) A greater degree of goal congruence where elements of

the organization work together towards broader global goals; (c) A distinct

orientation to the future and development of sensitivity to the environment so

that personnel management becomes more anticipative, opportune and responsive;

(d) A resource economy-oriented organization where planning leads to the

reduction of overlaps and duplications, and closer scrutiny of operations

performance is based on both results/delivery analysis and cost/effectiveness

evaluation, as well as providing the climate for disciplined thinking as the

method for introducing rationality and logic to decision making.

33. Achievement of these goals is expected to be facilitated by (a) applying

methods to guarantee objectivity and rationality in developing objectives and

priorities and in the design of programme alternatives and resource allocation;

(b) clear identification of decision areas; and (c) allotment of specific

authority, responsibility and accountability for every programmed activity.

34. The human resources development plan of the Philippines has two objectives,

namely: reduction of political patronage and attraction of as many qualified

applicants as possible and selection of the best. To achieve these twin goals,

the Civil Service Commission has developed several strategies:

(a) Increasing the visibility of the civil service;

(b) Integrating a positive and developmental approach with a certain degree

of liberality and openness;

(c) Promoting the yearly National Congress and General Assembly of Workers

in Government to enhance communication and cooperation;


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(d) Complementing employee empowerment mechanisms for building up the

bureaucracy by aiding in the deregulation and decentralization of operations;

(e) Deregulating human resources development in order to release funds to

provide greater accessibility to training programmes and activities.

35. In the Sudan, human resources development objectives involve:

(a) Correcting the serious over-staffing problem;

(b) Making policies and strategies for administrative reform;

(c) Preparing the public service for a vital role in economic, social, and

political development;

(d) Maintaining the neutrality and independence of the public service

vis-à-vis political, racial, religious or geographical exploitation.

36. To achieve these objectives, the Government intended to begin by

(a) Restudying the organizational structure of public organizations;

(b) Redistributing surplus personnel;

(c) Implementing a self-recruitment plan for surplus employees to new

Government projects;

(d) Non-retention of personnel;

(e) Studying problems of coordination between the executive organs;

(f) Studying the possibility of establishing a permanent body for

reviewing wages and salaries.

37. A United Nations mission suggested a project for administrative reforms in

the public sector which led to the creation of training management service units

located in governmental organizations. Started in 1975, the project was

accepted and promoted by the majority of top administrators in the country.

Later, the rate of establishing additional units has been slow.

38. In Thailand, the following human resources development objectives are

sought:


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(a) Improving policies and internal management of the central personnel

agency;

(b) Establishing a personnel policy statement to clearly define objectives

and responsibilities;

(c) Providing a well-trained civil service staff for government

programmes;

(d) Conducting research and analysis, and making reform proposals based on

the information gathered;

(e) Improving information resource management;

(f) Revising a standards-based position classification system;

(g) Developing a new appointment system for executives.

39. The Civil Service Commission is actively involved in three strategies:

(a) A major planning effort;

(b) Conducting special studies for the diagnosis and in-depth examination

of existing conditions;

(c) Skill-building for staff.

40. The focus of human resources development in Viet Nam involves:

(a) Redefining the functions of the ministries;

(b) Rationalizing the organization;

(c) Strengthening the coordination between central and local Governments;

(d) Building up a body of laws and regulations governing the functions of

public organizations;

(e) Training civil servants to improve their administrative skills to

support the development process;


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(f) Encouraging people to create jobs for themselves;

(g) Readjusting wages and incomes;

(h) Providing proper working conditions and labour protection;

(i) Providing for social insurance;

(j) Providing social welfare.

41. The broad spectrum of activities of the countries covered above shows that

the strategic planning initiative is not one specific blueprint but more of an

agenda, an institutional vision which helps to direct, monitor and track

performance to stated goals and objectives. Strategic planning allows

mid-course correction and even mid-course change should goals and objectives

change.

The information initiative

42. The second model, the information initiative approach, requires a series of

basic steps that generate high quality of information, which then can be

utilized to identify (a) shortcomings in the current human resources capacities

of the public sector; (b) types of professional development programmes needed in

order to upgrade the quality of the staff; and (c) the knowledge and skills

needed for those who will be recruited into the public sector.

43. The basic steps in creating the information initiative system for human

resources management are as follows: (a) describing and diagnosing the existing

system; (b) planning the future institutional scenario; (c) deciding the

processes of human resources development; and (d) measuring the viability of new

systems.

44. The composite of the human resources information forms a primary management

information system for the public service and can be used as a technological

management tool, particularly in the areas of structural administration and

design; promotion and salary administration; personnel budgeting; selection;

evaluation; training and career development; organizational evaluation and

control; and personnel planning and management.

45. Once the personnel management information system is set up, four different

approaches can be used by developing countries to upgrade the quality of their

civil services. These are (a) identification of a relatively small number of


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key positions to be staffed with the best available personnel; (b) creation of

an elite corps in the French ENA tradition; (c) establishment of an

internationally funded, parallel consultants' network; and (d) design of a

service-wide career system, to be implemented gradually. The success of the

four different approaches is heavily dependent upon an open, transparent,

user-friendly personnel management information system.

46. Each of these systems, representing different approaches to human resources

development, has its own strategic and operational requirements. Undoubtedly, a

service-wide career system would be the most difficult and the most complex; it

would be laden with all sort of obstacles no matter how gradually the plan was

implemented. Experience has shown that system-wide programmes for human

resources development, as well as other administrative and management

improvement strategies, are a common element of many public sector reform

efforts. Unfortunately, obstacles tend to dissipate the effectiveness of many

reforms for change. In those developing countries where human resources

development strategies utilizing the information initiative are being planned, a

more decentralized approach would be more prudent. A decentralized strategy

for developing countries provides a sense of being more manageable, one in which

mid-course correction could be made quite rapidly.

47. Elaboration of the information initiative model is provided in a recently

published report of the United Nations on changing perspectives on human

resources development.

Performance initiative

48. The third model, performance initiative, starts with the premise that, if

the public sector is to gain back its credibility and respond effectively to its

new role as a "catalyst" in economic development and as a partner with the

private and non-profit sectors for economic governance, then it must devote

significant energy to increasing the performance and productivity of its human

resources.

49. Although the public sector has provided goods and services and has

contributed to the overall welfare, dissatisfaction with the public sector is

increasingly widespread and becoming deeply entrenched. Finding ways to

overcome and remove aspects of dissatisfaction should be a primary goal in

public sector management.

50. Fortunately, three types of quantitative scrutiny can help the public

service defend itself. Performance measurement can help empower public servants


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by encouraging them to question "what" and "how" Governments provide goods and

services. An important premise is that to improve the quality of their

decisions, bureaucracies must also share widely the information necessary to

make those decisions among their bureaucrats. The only effective sharing is

that which is regular, honest, clear and open. Thus, anyone involved in

decision-making - at any level - should have an open door to relevant

information. Allowing information to circulate freely will help to stimulate

new ideas and to focus problem-solving energies as well as to increase trust and

commitment through transparency. Fact-based examinations can:

(a) Measure public sector performance;

(b) Link service measurement to resource allocation decisions that affect

human resources;

(c) Improve decisions by displaying clearly service and budget data.

51. With increasing democratization of developing societies, Governments in

these countries are coming under intense scrutiny as to whether they are

providing their citizens with goods and services. More important, Governments

are now being scrutinized for their responsiveness to the needs and demands of

their citizens. Citizen evaluations of responsiveness in an open society is now

a growing phenomenon for Governments grappling with democratic governance.

52. Each inquiry or complaint, while it is being addressed, should lead to an

intensive internal self-evaluation and examination of the activities of all the

relevant organizations. Some questions that might be asked are: Is this

actually what we should be doing? Are there better ways of accomplishing it?

How can we ensure that negative effects are minimized? Who was responsible for

the activity? How can we improve the performance of those who were responsible

for the action?

53. Such questions draw attention to the essential measurement. There are ways

in which public sector efficiency and outcomes can be measured objectively, but

often management does not have the hard data needed to develop sound and

feasible indicators. However, the concept of measuring public service is not

only sound but feasible. Both outputs and outcomes are measurable. A

measurement programme offers an opportunity to develop and present hard feedback

necessary to judge performance. Public service in many countries currently

depends on vague personal perceptions of circumstances as a measure of

performance. Measures of performance can contribute to improved decision-

making, greater satisfaction, higher morale and more authoritative choices.


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54. Managers can use performance measurement data to accomplish three basic

objectives: (a) to account for past activities; (b) to manage current

operations, and (c) to assess progress towards planned objectives. The first

two methods assist operational decision making, while the last method assists

decision-making processes involved in planning. When used to look at past

activities, performance measures can show the accountability of processes and

procedures used to complete a task, as well as programme results. When used to

manage current operations, performance measures can show how efficiently

resources, such as dollars and staff, are being used. Finally, when tied to

planned objectives, performance measures can be used to assess how effectively

an agency is achieving the goals stated in its long-range strategic plan.

55. Data about inputs, outputs, outcomes and performance indices can play a key

role in decision making that is often dominated by the subjective and the

political. Measures help to answer questions such as: Are an agency's

employees appropriately prepared to carry out their responsibilities? Are they

as efficient or effective as counterparts in other jurisdictions? Are their

programmes cost-efficient? Are they creating unintended side effects or

producing unanticipated impacts? Are they responsive to the public? In short,

are they productive?

56. A number of key indicators will define the development of performance

measures. These will include programme performance, programme effectiveness,

desirable characteristics of goods/services, management uses, data collection

and analysis of data. (The annex further elaborates on performance measurement

indicators.)

The training and professional development initiative

57. The fourth model, the training and professional development initiative, is

perhaps the most utilized strategy in human resources development. Through a

variety of academic and non-academic programmes, in-country and out-of-country,

long and short term, this initiative is expected to increase operational

capability, to improve programme and project sustainability, and to eliminate

the need for expatriate assistance in the administration and management of

public sector activities.

58. Unfortunately, the experience of the last three decades of development has

shown that although large numbers of civil servants in developing countries have

undergone training and professional development, many of these economies are not

being managed, operated, or maintained effectively, and a few remain totally


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dependent upon expatriate advisers. Inappropriately prepared or upgraded public

servants often result in the deterioration of the country's physical

infrastructure and provisions of goods and services.

59. In many developing countries there is an apparent lack of a "critical mass"

of qualified managers, technicians, and skilled workers needed to support basic

levels of public sector activity.

60. The major factors affecting the capacity of the public sector workforce

encompass (a) ability to perform; (b) conditions in the workplace; and

(c) attitudes about performance.

61. Four factors can make a key contribution to improving the current state of

human resources development activities utilizing training and professional

development. The first factor is workforce development, which would be

implemented in a comprehensive manner encompassing personnel management;

provision of resources needed to carry out work assignments; establishment of a

proper workplace environment; adequate conditions of employment; and training

for job-specific skills and knowledge. The second factor, country planning,

would include greater focus on workforce development as an integral part of

economic development. Planners and decision makers would emphasize workforce

capacity and potential equally, along with economic indicators, in their

articulation and implementation of strategies for economic development. The

third factor is project management, which would play a critical short- and long-

term role. In the short run a significant amount of training and professional

development will be based on international technical assistance in the form of

projects. Good management is the most important factor affecting all aspects of

projects, including project development and formulation, implementation and

evaluation. Project managers need to have full authority and responsibility for

project activities and proper control of project funds. They need to be fully

accountable for all actions taken under the project. Therefore, training and

professional development programmes, which encourage managers to improve their

management effectiveness in project preparation, implementation and review are

essential components for an integrated development career. Finally, the fourth

factor, manageability, which is the ability of the public sector to carry out

all its activities with their own workforce, needs to be integrated into the

training and professional development initiative. Appropriate general

management training and professional development enables top- and middle-level

civil service personnel to develop the criteria and experience needed to decide

on activities with higher probability of success, and which are sustainable,

rather than attempting those that are likely to generate more problems than

solutions.


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III. CONCLUSION

62. In the redefined public sector, they key question is: What will be the

nature of the public service personnel? And further: How will public service

deal with the highly trained and portable public servant? How will it deal with

untrained and non-trainable personnel in view of the growing importance of

performance in the new public service? Who are the trainable? What will be the

nature of the new knowledge in the public service? These issues at one level

have to be balanced with the need to link human resources development with

economic planning and, at the next level, educational planning. Furthermore,

successful human resources development plans would need to be tempered by global

and national financial realities.

63. Encasing human resources development in socio-cultural values, on the one

hand, and obtaining the commitment of people, government and public service, on

the other, to transform society in an agreed direction would ensure development

of relevant policies and programmes for human resources development. Each

nation will have to determine its path, but what remains true is that people -

well qualified - are the main ingredient of sustainable development.


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Annex

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT QUESTIONS

In terms of programme performance:

How much of a service is provided?

How efficiently are resources used?

How effectively is a service provided?

In terms of effectiveness indicators for performance:

What is the intended purpose of the service?

What are the unintended impacts of the service?

How effective is the service in the prevention of problems before they

arise?

Is the service adequate?

Is the service accessible?

Are clients satisfied with services?

Are services distributed equitably?

Is a product durable?

To what extent is a service provided to clients with dignity?

In terms of desirable characteristics of performance measures:

Is a service significant?

Is the service appropriate to the problem being addressed?

Is performance quantifiable?


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Are services readily available?

Are services delivered in a timely manner?

Are services delivered in a relatively straightforward manner?

Is a measure of performance valid?

Is a measure acceptable?

Is performance measured completely?

Are measures accurate?

Are measures reliable?

In terms of management's uses of productivity measures, are measures used to

help:

Set goals?

Estimate resource requirements?

Develop budget justifications?

Reduce costs?

Develop organization improvement strategies?

Control operations?

Reallocate resources?

Hold individuals or organizational units accountable?

Motivate employees to improve performance?

Compare agencies or subunits to similar entities or to past levels of

achievement?

Predict periods of work overload or underload?


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Link increased resources to policy outcomes or to system-wide problems?

Improve benefit-cost linkages?

Develop more sophisticated capacities for measurement?

In terms of data collection:

Are existing records analysed?

Are clients surveyed?

Are taxpayers surveyed?

Are services rated by professional or trained observers?

Are special data collection techniques utilized?

In terms of the analysis of productivity data:

Are before vs. after comparisons made?

Are measures displayed in a time series?

Are comparisons made with other areas, jurisdictions, or client groups?

Are comparisons made with targets?

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human resources development - united...

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